WhatsApp Scam: The Trap of the 'Urgent Service'

A simple message. A few respectful words. A seemingly innocuous request... and yet, within minutes, thousands of rupees vanish. In Mauritius, a WhatsApp scam is gaining traction, ensnaring unsuspecting individuals caught in a web of urgency and trust.

The scam begins with a familiar greeting: "Assalamualaikum, Hello, Namaste, I need an urgent favor from you please..." Behind this phrase lurks a scammer ready to extract money at any cost. The scenario is almost always the same. The person receives a message from a contact. The tone is pressing.

"I’m trying to send money to someone and it’s not going through... I think I’ve exceeded my transfer limit. Can you help me send Rs 20,000 right now? I’ll refund tomorrow morning."

Without taking the time to think, some people agree. In just a few clicks, via bank transfer or a mobile app, the money is sent to an unknown person.

Method

Naz K., a woman in her forties, found herself in such a situation after her digital identity was hijacked. Suspicious messages were sent without her knowledge. She went to the Pamplemousses police station to file a complaint on Tuesday, March 31.

Several acquaintances contacted her, expressing concern. "Naz, are you in financial trouble? How can we help you?" Surprised by these questions, she immediately responded that she was fine and had no issues. Intrigued, she asked for explanations. It was then she learned that a message from her WhatsApp profile solicited a bank transfer of Rs 20,000.

Orchestrated Fraud

According to gathered information, the message sent to her contacts followed the classic pattern of an urgent request in a familiar tone, promising reimbursement. To her contacts, the message did not seem suspicious. It came from her number, with her name and photo. Everything indicated it was indeed her.

But Naz insists she did not send any message. "I did not send any message. I think someone hacked my WhatsApp." Once she became aware of the situation, she tried to limit the damage. She immediately alerted her contacts.

"I told my contacts not to send money; it wasn’t me doing this." Despite this warning, the damage was done. One acquaintance fell into the trap. In the confusion and haste, one of her contacts did not think to verify the information. Convinced he was helping Naz in a difficult moment, he made the requested transfer. He later realized he had been scammed. "Unfortunately, one acquaintance fell into the trap... he sent the money," Naz confides.

Other Similar Cases

On Friday, January 23, 2026, at around 8:08 PM, a 55-year-old consultant living in Roche-Brunes received a WhatsApp message. The sender displayed the name and photo of his aunt, who lives in Curepipe.

The message was polite but tinged with urgency: "Namaste, I need a favor from you please... I’m having a little problem with my MCB account." Very quickly, the request became specific: a transfer of Rs 20,000 was solicited to resolve the banking issue. Reimbursement was promised for the next day.

Without hesitation, convinced he was helping a family member, the consultant took action. At 9 PM, he made a transfer via Internet banking from his savings account at Mauritius Commercial Bank to an account at State Bank of Mauritius.

The beneficiary: an unknown name. The reference: "family support". A few minutes later, the transaction was confirmed. At 9:02 PM, he received a message on WhatsApp: "much appreciated". But soon, unease set in. Troubled by some unusual details, he asked his aunt to call him. However, he received no call or message.

The next day, Saturday, January 24, around 8 PM, the truth emerged. By contacting his aunt directly, he discovered that she had never requested any financial assistance. Worse still, several acquaintances received exactly the same message, sent in his name. There had been identity theft.

Another Example

Aisha (name changed), a resident of Plaine-Verte, emotionally recounts how she was scammed. "I thought my brother was writing to me... he even had his photo. He told me he was in trouble and needed to help someone. I didn’t hesitate... I sent Rs 20,000."

The next day, when she called her brother to check on him, the truth came out. "My heart broke... he told me he knew nothing. I realized I had been scammed...".

Like them, many Mauritians have fallen victim to this insidious scheme, sometimes losing even larger sums. According to sources close to the police, scammers use a well-rehearsed method. They create a fake account with the name and photo of a real person. In some cases, they take control of the WhatsApp account. They use urgency as psychological pressure. Emotional manipulation: they exploit trust, religion, and solidarity.

Authorities Urge Vigilance. Signs to Watch For:

• An unexpected message asking for money
• Urgency ("right now", "urgent")
• A request for money transfer to an unknown third party
• A promise of quick reimbursement
• Inability to reach the person by call.

Authorities Recommend:

• Never send money without direct confirmation
• Enable two-step verification on WhatsApp
• Immediately report any suspicious accounts
• File a complaint promptly in case of a scam.

"Don’t panic. Take your time to verify. Call the person directly. If they don’t answer, don’t send money," advises the police.